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Anxiety

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Chris_B Forums etiquette: give support to receive support
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newb... View more

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newbies are welcomed when they first post, and we understand that it’s a big step to post for the first time on a forum like this, especially if you aren’t feeling great. It’s important to remember, though, that these forums are a community of real people, just like you, not a one-on-one support environment like going to see your psychologist. To get the best out of being here, one of the best tips we can offer is give support to receive support. Being a good community member means: participating in different threads (not just your own), replying to people who have taken the time to reply to you (even if it’s just to say thank you), and... posting words of emotional support and encouragement when you see others who are hurting and reaching out. You don’t have to feel obliged to solve the problems of others: that’s not what we’re here for. But you can offer empathy and what you’ve learned from your own life experiences, even if it’s just a line or two, eg. “I don't know what to say, but I want to give you my support and tell you I care about what is happening to you and hope life will get better soon.” Try to develop an interest in the journeys of others here on the forums. You may be surprised at how good being an active, caring member here can make you feel. For those of you who have had good experiences giving support here on the forums, please post in this thread here and let us know how it has helped you on your journey.

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Cherie1472 Anxiety after illness
  • replies: 2

Hi, I've been having anxiety symptoms. I had a brain tumour removed 9 weeks ago, now my life feels upside down and I feel empty. Worried about what will happen job wise, money wise and if I'll be able to keep my house. Thanks for reading.

Hi, I've been having anxiety symptoms. I had a brain tumour removed 9 weeks ago, now my life feels upside down and I feel empty. Worried about what will happen job wise, money wise and if I'll be able to keep my house. Thanks for reading.

mchops Struggling to cope in a high pressure work environment
  • replies: 6

Hi guys, Has anyone here worked in a high stress environment, particularly in an office environment? I kindly ask of your advice on my experience at my new job which has been giving me stress and anxiety. Some key issues: I was not provided any hando... View more

Hi guys, Has anyone here worked in a high stress environment, particularly in an office environment? I kindly ask of your advice on my experience at my new job which has been giving me stress and anxiety. Some key issues: I was not provided any handover notes from my predecessor and am still figuring out the job, but I face multiple projects and feel like I’m sinking and constantly stressed from the pressure and high expectations right off the bat.My director is a huge micromanager and nothing is ever good enough even tho I try my best. Numerous nit picking every day, including how I organise my desk. I do accept that my work isn’t up to scratch yet as I’m still learning about what he likes. But review rounds/approvals for my work happen in 50 pieces rather than organised sessions, which I’ve spoken up about. He is very strict. Incredibly difficult to please him. This is experienced by different departments too, including getting criticised multiple times a day for things not in our control.Context: this is a small 20 person company. I only have myself and an assistant from Phillipines who isn’t that skilled and constantly have to spell out tasks to her and check for mistakes. I have had tl resort to use freelancers in my next project to produce high quality work. This company has a 1 year turn over and I’m starting to see why. Also we are always being watched through security cameras. Got in trouble today for venting to my coworker because I was so stressed out.Health impacts: I’ve been here a month and I’ve been getting IBS during weeks of peak stress, losing sleep from stress, and am angry or anxious most days. I’m under so much pressure from high expectations and lack of available resources (starting from scratch) but not given time to deal with these start up issues. I’ve never worked at a place that has an issue with everything. Feels like 10 new problems every day. My next steps: I plan to give this place a chance until end of 2024 (so end of my probation) but I cannot continue after this if things don’t change bc I feel my mental health deteriorating. Everything feels like my fault and expectations are that of a multi million dollar company so how can I ever reach that. I’m only human and basically a one man band.Thank you for reading this, sorry for long message.

JS9595 Severe health anxiety - scared I have lupus
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone I am so glad to have found this forum. I’m 31 yr old mum to two little kids and I suffer from severe health anxiety. It all started a few years ago when I was misdiagnosed with breast cancer. It was the scariest time of my life and I stil... View more

Hi everyone I am so glad to have found this forum. I’m 31 yr old mum to two little kids and I suffer from severe health anxiety. It all started a few years ago when I was misdiagnosed with breast cancer. It was the scariest time of my life and I still can recall the stress like it was yesterday! recently I’ve been feeling a bit off, dizzy etc so I went to the doctor to get my iron checked (I do occasionally have low iron) but everything came back fine.. except my ANA came back positive (and a pretty high positive at that). The doctor said that we will have to explore it further with more blood tests, but I can’t do those for another three months. She mentioned they would be looking for lupus.. once I heard that I FREAKED OUT. I have been crying and googling non stop about lupus, and all the complications that come with it. I’m scared I’m going to die and convinced myself I have it. I feel like my mental health and stress level is back where it was when I experienced the cancer misdiagnosis. I can’t sleep, I can’t focus on my kids and I am convinced I will die. I went back to speak to my doctor and she said that she was while I did have a positive ANA result, it does not confirm I do have lupus or even an autoimmune disease, but I have to wait the 3 months before the next blood test to rule it out. that made me feel a bit better but only for a short amount of time. I am back to googling, scanning my body for ANY and ALL signs of lupus. It’s making me crazy. I’m scared it’s attacking my brain, lungs and heart and I’ll have a heart attack! I am not sure what to do, or who to speak to. I just want to know I am ok for my kids. Any advice, support or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated. much love!

BlueLily Last minute anxiety making medicine in to a source of stress
  • replies: 1

I've been doing dancing as a hobby for sometime, my medicine, which I enjoy as a way of taking my mid off work and busy life. During this I've had stage fright for a while. But with various strategies overtime I have been able to overcome the anxiety... View more

I've been doing dancing as a hobby for sometime, my medicine, which I enjoy as a way of taking my mid off work and busy life. During this I've had stage fright for a while. But with various strategies overtime I have been able to overcome the anxiety to an extent. So now leading up to a performance I feel confident and feel like I've long passed my stage anxiety. However, few hours right before the performance I start feeling anxious, about potentially feeling anxious during the performance that can result in completely messing up or forgetting my steps. The silly side of this is, even if I forget or mess up my steps it's not a big deal, happens to people sometimes. Sometimes they talk about it but everybody is there to learn. My mind realises that it's irrational but not when I'm about to go to the performance. Hence my medicine turned in to a source of stress. Has anybody had similar experiences and hopefully some tips?

Beaser Scared again and dont know where im headed.
  • replies: 18

Hi and best wishes to everyone..Im starting to get very scared again and having panic like attacks. I just feel so alone at times and this might sound strange but i feel like a kid who just wants to give his mum a hug. But im 58 i lost my mum at 18 a... View more

Hi and best wishes to everyone..Im starting to get very scared again and having panic like attacks. I just feel so alone at times and this might sound strange but i feel like a kid who just wants to give his mum a hug. But im 58 i lost my mum at 18 and Dad in 2000 and have no real family support. Im currently not working and dont feel i have the energy to start again. I just do some volunteer work one day a week at a hospital. Ive never really progressed in life i just seem to have filled in time . I feel like i have had enough a times. Best wishes Brett

Olliepop My brother gives me anxitey!
  • replies: 24

My brother, middle child, is very pushy and narcissistic.He always thinks he is right, he always is so judgmental on people, hes rude, he doesn't listen, when we all reach our breaking points, then he pipes down a little bit.I blame my mother, for ne... View more

My brother, middle child, is very pushy and narcissistic.He always thinks he is right, he always is so judgmental on people, hes rude, he doesn't listen, when we all reach our breaking points, then he pipes down a little bit.I blame my mother, for never allowing my father to punish him and learn discipline at a young age like my older brother did. She forever covers for him, till this day.I find the more i avoid him, and a situation he is in the better. We do work together, which isnt easy, but avoiding him throughout the day i have learn how to manage.I have realized, anything that changes in my life, he over involves himself and sometimes i cant help but feel i have to start defending myself when he starts commenting, or asking too many questions.Recently, my husband left his job, which he was very unhappy in.My husband continues to provide, in his own ways, i just don't inform everyone on what he does, which to me is perfectly fine, and its none of anyones business. Were happy. We both have an income. There is nothing to talk about.My husband purchased me a brand new car, and recently sold my current. My husband is a thinker, if the new car is coming soon, why wait to sell the current when we can manage together getting to and from places, have the funds ready to lay into the new car when its time.My brother starts commenting, why sell the car before the new one?.. how can you both get around blah blah blah. If we manage, its none of your business. My husband has told my brother he left the previous job, but my brother still asks me acting dumb, and when i get on the defense explaining why things were done, he doesnt reply and ignores me.. in which i stated, you shouldn't judge situations when you dont know first hand how people feel. he snaps back with im not judging but that happens in all workplaces, it happens here, i even do it. For him to hear himself, i dont respond. and then i think he realized what he was saying then goes on pretending he hasn't made me react, so now IM the one who is upset and hes moved on acting all cool. I find the more i try to voice my opinion to make my brother back off, the worse it gets, but its also not okay NOT voicing my opinion too. My brother is easily jealous of situations, who has the better house, who has the better car, and when people move in silence, and he doesnt know whats going on, i believe he doesnt like that.Some advice on how to handle him please!Annoyed sister.

PokemonFan Power Games At Work
  • replies: 1

I work in a detached, open office where the workforce is divided into different groups but open office. This separation has created silos and communication barriers whilst forcing everyone who is a lower level to listen to everything. I took this low... View more

I work in a detached, open office where the workforce is divided into different groups but open office. This separation has created silos and communication barriers whilst forcing everyone who is a lower level to listen to everything. I took this low-level easy job to finish my degree, which I am nearing completion of. To manage the workload between full-time work and part-time study, I have adopted a growth mindset, believing that maintaining a positive attitude towards learning is key to staying motivated. Unfortunately, my positive attitude failed me, resulting in a 45-minute panic attack.Since I started this job, my manager has gone on maternity leave, and both the director and two support managers have quit. We currently have an acting manager for my department, but she is quite unpleasant.She frequently makes disparaging comments about people. These comments are so petty that no one will believe me unless they see her ugly side. Recently, she made hurtful remarks about our manager, who is on maternity leave. She suggested that a mother without family support would struggle to return to work and implied that she shouldn't come back because it is not possible to have a baby and be a manager. She also said that she does not want to give up her acting position, and if the maternity manager returns, she will have to watch her back.Her behaviour has caused many conflicts among the lower-level staff, yet she seems to please the senior management. Whenever she starts speaking, I try to find an excuse to leave and avoid her. This situation is impacting my growth mindset and causing me fear. She always talks down to me and treats me with disrespect. I want to quit, but I struggle to find time to job hunt between my studies.I'm looking forward to the school holidays to begin my search for a new job. Do you have any tips on how to ignore her?

Steve23 Something needs to change
  • replies: 6

Hi There, If you’re reading this I hope you’re ok. I’ve had issues with sleeping since I was 18. I’m now almost 29. For the past year I’ve been in my worst sleep cycle ever. I started reading about sleep deprivation and the effects on the body of not... View more

Hi There, If you’re reading this I hope you’re ok. I’ve had issues with sleeping since I was 18. I’m now almost 29. For the past year I’ve been in my worst sleep cycle ever. I started reading about sleep deprivation and the effects on the body of not getting enough sleep. Without going too far into it, I know it’s not good and 10 years of sleep deprivation cannot be reversed and I know my lifespan is shortened significantly because of it (when I say sleep deprivation I get less than 20 hrs sleep per week, and not all of that is quality sleep either). I try to physically exhaust myself by running in the middle of the night or early morning, going to 24hr gyms. I work so hard at the office each day, alienating myself from colleagues and not taking breaks because I just want to completely exhaust myself so I can fall asleep that night. None of this has worked. I can take 2 sleeping pills and 2 melatonins and not get a single second of sleep. I’m beginning to think that it’s nothing to do with my body. But my mind. Here are some of the reasons why I think this: 1) Whenever I get my blood pressure tested, it is always through the roof. I even had to take a blood pressure machine home for a month and I eventually worked out that when I really try to calm down and breathe I can actually reduce my reading. But does this mean when I am not totally focussed on being calm, I am constantly stressed and in high blood pressure? 2) I feel like 24/7 I am always shaking. My chest feels tight. My breath is shaky. My hands are not steady. I’m thinking negative or worrying thoughts and rarely thinking positively. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, what can be done? I’m at a complete loss and I am so tired. thanks, Steve

aivilo45 losing my soul dog
  • replies: 3

Hi all, In march of this year, I lost my soul dog. He was my absolute world and everyday since I feel a piece of me is missing. Home does not feel like home anymore, I just feel so empty inside without him. I went through really bad depression from 2... View more

Hi all, In march of this year, I lost my soul dog. He was my absolute world and everyday since I feel a piece of me is missing. Home does not feel like home anymore, I just feel so empty inside without him. I went through really bad depression from 2016-2020 and he was my absolute everything. He just knew I was not okay and was just there for me. At the start of this year I was diagnosed with many chronic health issues and before and after the hospital, he did not leave my side. I miss going on walks with him, I miss cuddling him on the couch, I miss having him sleep by my side, I miss my best friend. I have tried talking to my parents about another dog, as I believe it would help not only me but also the three of us, as over the last few years we have experienced many losses, and I just think it would be ice to have some extra company in the house, as well as a new best friend. They don't seem to keen on the idea as they want to travel a lot more, but I would like to have one so as when they do travel I have some company at home. Life this year has just felt..... sad. I just feel like a lot in my life has fallen apart this year. Especially since my boy passed. My psych agrees another dog would be good for me, but I just can't talk to my parents about it. They keep asking me whats wrong and why im flat but i cant be bothered saying its because I feel empty since losing my boy and would like another to bring some light into my life and fill that empty void.

Nemo Anxiety and depression
  • replies: 3

Afternoon all my adult son has anxiety and hoarding and lives in my investment unit for 5 years ,refuses to pay rent for 4 years, I have had the unit renovated over one year ago and cleaned by hoarding specialist at my exorbitant expense,no insurance... View more

Afternoon all my adult son has anxiety and hoarding and lives in my investment unit for 5 years ,refuses to pay rent for 4 years, I have had the unit renovated over one year ago and cleaned by hoarding specialist at my exorbitant expense,no insurance as he wouldn’t let real estate in to do inspections and I was too worried about him to jet the real estate evict him .He has not had counseling at all and refuses to persue professional help.I want to give him notice to move out and only be available for emotional support.The unit is getting damaged and I can’t afford to pay for it anymore.